THE DEPRESSION DISABILITY

Evening Star, Issue 22688, 30 June 1937, Page 13

THE DEPRESSION DISABILITY

YOUTH LO6T CHANCE TO BECOME SKILLED UK IF UNEMPLOYMENT FUND IN TRAINING SCHEME [SPECIAL TO THE ‘ STAR.’] AUCKLAND, June 29. Under the caption of ‘ The Vfarning of “ Too Late ” 1 to-day’s ‘ Star ’ in an editorial says:—lt was not until 15 - or 16 years had passed after the end of the war that the Soldiers’ Re-estab-lishment League was formed. The league has done good work probably—as us chairman, Major J. R. Kirk, said at the annual meeting yesterday—- “ almost all that could possibly be done ” in. the circumstances, but—as he said also—“ the scheme, excellent in its outlook, was put into operation top late.” Returned soldiers as a class are now between 45 and 55 years of age or more, and, as the chairman pointed out, at these ages men are more or less settled in their habits. Their fingers and joints cannot be made to control quick-moving machines, and it is difficult for them to learn some business, especially to compete success" fully with younger men trained from their youth without a break. This statement comes opportunely for the warning and guidance of those concerned with another class—the youths and young men who, because of the depression, did not become skilled in an occupation, and now, because of the labour laws, find their age a handicap to employment. Yet there is a shortage of skilled workers in several trades. The remedy surely is to spend part of the unemployment funds to make possible the training of men who, unlike the returned soldiers, are still young enough to learn. Perhaps the scheme would be costly, but a community which (to mention an Auckland instance) has spent £178,000 in constructing a golf course should not balk at the cost.